Rocky Balboa is a small-time boxer who lives in an apartment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his career has so far not gotten off the canvas. Rocky earns a living by collecting debts for a loan shark named Gazzo, but Gazzo doesn't think Rocky has the viciousness it takes to beat up deadbeats. Rocky still boxes every once in a while to keep his boxing skills sharp, and his ex-trainer, Mickey, believes he could've made it to the top if he was willing to work for it. Rocky, goes to a pet store that sells pet supplies, and this is where he meets a young woman named Adrian, who is extremely shy, with no ability to talk to men. Rocky befriends her. Adrain later surprised Rocky with a dog from the pet shop that Rocky had befriended. Adrian's brother Paulie, who works for a meat packing company, is thrilled that someone has become interested in Adrian, and Adrian spends Thanksgiving with Rocky. Later, they go to Rocky's apartment, where Adrian explains that she has never been in a man's apartment before. Rocky sets her mind at ease, and they become lovers. Current world heavyweight boxing champion Apollo Creed comes up with the idea of giving an unknown a shot at the title. Apollo checks out the Philadelphia boxing scene, and chooses Rocky. Fight promoter Jergens gets things in gear, and Rocky starts training with Mickey. After a lot of training, Rocky is ready for the match, and he wants to prove that he can go the distance with Apollo.
:
- ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
1988
Won
ASCAP Award
Most Performed Feature Film Standards
Carol Connors
Ayn Robbins
Bill Conti
For the song "Gonna Fly Now".
- Academy Awards, USA
1977
Won
Oscar
Best Director
John G. Avildsen
Best Film Editing
Richard Halsey
Scott Conrad
Best Picture
Irwin Winkler
Robert Chartoff
Nominated
Oscar
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone becomes the third person to be nominated for both acting and writing in the same year, following Charles Chaplin for The Great Dictator (1940) and Orson Welles for Citizen Kane (1941).
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Burt Young
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Burgess Meredith
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Talia Shire
Best Music, Original Song
Bill Conti (music)
Carol Connors (lyrics)
Ayn Robbins (lyrics)
For the song "Gonna Fly Now"
Best Sound
Harry W. Tetrick
William L. McCaughey
Lyle J. Burbridge
Bud Alper
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Sylvester Stallone
- American Cinema Editors, USA
1977
Won
Eddie
Best Edited Feature Film
Richard Halsey
Scott Conrad
- Awards of the Japanese Academy
1978
Won
Award of the Japanese Academy
Best Foreign Language Film
- BAFTA Awards
1978
Nominated
BAFTA Film Award
Best Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Best Direction
John G. Avildsen
Best Editing
Richard Halsey
Best Film
Best Screenplay
Sylvester Stallone
- Blue Ribbon Awards
1978
Won
Blue Ribbon Award
Best Foreign Language Film
John G. Avildsen
- David di Donatello Awards
1977
Won
David
Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero)
Sylvester Stallone
Tied with Dustin Hoffman for Marathon Man (1976).
- Directors Guild of America, USA
1977
Won
DGA Award
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
John G. Avildsen
Ted Swanson (unit production manager) (plaque)
Fred T. Gallo (assistant director) (plaque)
Steve Perry (assistant director) (plaque)
- Golden Globes, USA
1977
Won
Golden Globe
Best Motion Picture - Drama
Nominated
Golden Globe
Best Director - Motion Picture
John G. Avildsen
Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
Sylvester Stallone
Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama
Talia Shire
Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Bill Conti
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Sylvester Stallone
- Grammy Awards
1978
Nominated
Grammy
Best Album of Original Score written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
Bill Conti
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
1977
Won
KCFCC Award
Best Actor
Sylvester Stallone
Best Film
- Kinema Junpo Awards
1978
Won
Kinema Junpo Award
Best Foreign Language Film
John G. Avildsen
Readers' Choice Award
Best Foreign Language Film
John G. Avildsen
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
1976
Won
LAFCA Award
Best Picture
Tied with Network (1976).
- National Board of Review, USA
1976
Won
NBR Award
Best Supporting Actress
Talia Shire
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards
1977
Won
NYFCC Award
Best Supporting Actress
Talia Shire
- Writers Guild of America, USA
1977
Nominated
WGA Award (Screen)
Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen
Sylvester Stallone